MCHS girls originally were in the 3A top five based on pre-season polls but are now ranked 25th after taking tournament defeats in December that impacted their standings.

Right behind the Bulldogs in RPI is Coal Ridge at 28th, with the Titans opening the league slate Wednesday with a 51-35 win over 1-8 Basalt, the Longhorns ranked last in the conference and 58th of 72 3A teams.

Lady Dogs, who lead the league in total points, will be back on their home floor Jan. 18 and 19, hosting Grand Valley and Cedaredge as they seek to build momentum for the remainder of the season.

The Cardinals and Bruins were two of the toughest foes MoCo girls faced last season, though the Bulldogs bested both to move to a league championship and defeated the Cards again at the district tourney for their sixth straight title.

Before winter break, the MCHS basketball teams stayed in shooting shape as they hosted their annual Hoop-a-Thon fundraiser, raising more than $4,000 combined between community pledges and a chili dinner.

Organizer Keri Hamilton noted that the girls team gained more than twice the pledges of boys.

“A huge thanks to everyone that came to watch, eat chili and pledge players. The community support was great,” she said.